Renowned equally for its intricate Friulian cuisine, a wine program created by partner and master sommelier Bobby Stuckey, and above-and-beyond service, this 20-year-old Boulder destination creates the kind of experiences that make many a Coloradan’s bucket list. Multicourse tasting menus abound in seasonal intricacies that might at any given time include game such as venison and quail; unusual pastas like balanzoni or cjalsons; luxuries like caviar and truffles; and unexpected juxtapositions — sea urchin and lardo, buffalo yogurt and soursop — while pairings are curated by some of the best in the business.

Though this Westminster sleeper hit does indeed serve wings — get them with lemongrass sauce — it’s the “things” that those in the know really flock here for: Page after page, the enormous menu entices with specialties from Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, and China, including seafood fried lort, chicken nam soot, duck larb, beef loc lac, and more. Gather a good-sized group to try a little bit of everything.

Co-owner Ben Jacobs, a member of the Osage Nation, opened this fast-casual showcase of Indigenous ingredients and recipes in 2008, and it’s been a Berkeley neighborhood institution ever since. Fry bread, Indian tacos, and bowls based on native grains like wild rice and wheatberries form the core of a menu that’s as soulful as it is stick-to-your-ribs (speaking of which, the menu also features richly seasoned bison ribs that are not to be missed).

Simply put, the Wolf’s Tailor is one of the most unusual and ambitious restaurants in Denver. But explaining the concept further is not so simple. Loosely mixing global cuisines with local influences, it’s ultimately grounded in technique more than any one tradition, relying on a binchotan grill, a wood-fired oven, and a fermentation program as well as house-milled heritage grains and produce from the garden for its constantly changing multicourse tasting menus. To list the ingredients in any given dish — spring lamb with rhubarb tonkatsu and mint-benne pesto, for example, or pork dumplings with turmeric and nam jim — is not to begin to capture the magic. (For an equally intricate, intimate, ineffable, and unforgettable experience, try downtown sibling Brutø.)

Part coffeehouse, part sandwich shop, part day-drinkers’ delight, this Sunnyside smash hit is above all more than the sum of its parts. Bangers like the Boujee (scrambled egg, whipped herbed feta, greens, muhammara, and za’atar on focaccia), the Dirty Denver (green chile–braised short rib, cheese curds, and salt-and-vinegar crispy onions on a hoagie roll), and the mixed bag of fries make fast regulars of first-timers, who return again and again to hang out on the patio over, say, vodka-spiked Gatorade or Kool-Aid margaritas. Here’s a slice of neighborhood life.

The shining star of the Source Hotel in RiNo is a showcase for chef Alon Shaya’s robust brand of modern Israeli cuisine. No meal here would be complete without an order of the wood-fired pita with hummus and an array of salatim, or small plates, such as labneh with pink peppercorns and whipped feta with fig vinegar; from there, go for the duck matzo ball soup, the crispy eggplant layered with tomato and herbed goat cheese, and the pomegranate-braised lamb shank — signature dishes all.

What seems to be an antique-filled fin-de-siècle parlor turns out to be a contemporary gem in the lobby of LoHi’s boutique Life House Hotel — one whose name serves as inspiration for a menu that’s indeed strewn with blossoms in the form of cocktail ingredients, culinary garnishes, and even a selection of meads locally made with wildflower honey. Dishes like huitlacoche-stuffed agnolotti with corn and mussels; lamb tart with green and sun-dried tomatoes; and a dessert duo of rhubarb bavarian and cardamom white chocolate with almond praline speak to the seasons while also expressing chef Aiden Tibbett’s appealingly intricate style.

Though it’s as close as the Mile High City gets to a good old Cape Cod oyster shack in terms of vibe, the culinary influences on the menu at this tight squeeze of a seafood joint in RiNo extend far beyond New England — from Baja-style fish tacos and Maryland crab dip–topped pretzels to Spanish-influenced grilled octopus in romesco sauce and Italian-inspired steamed mussels with Calabrian chiles. Come dessert, believe them when they say the key lime pie is the best in town.

Though it’s a counter-service operation in a small, simple RiNo space, Spencer White and Alex Figura’s wildly popular pasta shop has proven itself far more vital to the neighborhood than any mere fast-casual joint could ever be (in fact, it has earned itself a sibling in the form of Redeemer Pizza a few blocks away). The compact menu over-delivers on intrigue for its size: While spaghetti and meatballs or cacio e pepe are always soothing options, it’s seasonal creations like squid ink fettuccine in miso cream sauce with calamari and chili crunch or cappelletti stuffed with duck confit and mushroom duxelles and accompanied by pickled rhubarb, oyster mushrooms, and fried leeks, not to mention bold starters such as black butter-marinated artichoke hearts with oranges in olive sauce, that have earned Dio Mio its stripes. (The beverage list is equally stylish.)

No frills but all heart, this little soul food joint in Park Hill serves up pure comfort in the form of smothered pork chops, cornmeal-crusted catfish, gumbo, the hot wings implied by the name, and more — including trimmings like black-eyed peas, collard greens with smoked turkey, and peach cobbler. Come and get it.

At once chic and slyly quaint, the dining room of Tim and Lillian Lu’s LoHi sensation sets the tone for a seasonal French menu that’s likewise sophisticated and soothing by turns — from sweetbreads in puff pastry with soubise and Madeira cream to classic bouillabaisse to a duck duo of pan-roasted breast and confit leg with figs, fermented turnips, and pommes purée for two. Dessert is de rigueur, as are sandwiches and pastries from the adjoining daytime bakery, which morphs into a wine bar at night.

At just a year old, Jacques already feels like a fixture in LoHi. That’s thanks in large part to its timeless bistro ambiance, which sets the mood for classic French food — onion soup, trout almondine, steak frites, and all, complemented by a few seasonal selections such as hamachi crudo with beets and puffed wild rice in peach mignonette or maitake mushroom tempura with romesco sauce. Cocktails like the Le Menthe with tequila, aloe liqueur, mint, and green pepper lend extra sophistication to the proceedings.

Call it the “it” factor. With a rustic vibe and a come-as-you-are attitude, this modern izakaya has quickly become a home away from home for LoHi’s party people, who kick things off with cocktails like the Big Fat Old Fashioned featuring smoked bone marrow–washed bourbon before digging into a menu that’s full of adventurous twists and turns — from shaved broccoli miso goma with ham and burnt honey to pickled tofu bao with kimchi green tomatoes to scallop crudo in peach-and-pepper jus with anise hyssop. Sake bombs cap it all off with a bang.

If this LoHi bakery, cafe, and restaurant emanates eclectic energy from sunup to long past sundown, it’s all thanks to chef-owner Linda Hampsten Fox, as inexhaustible as she is imaginative. Influences as diverse as Italy, Israel, and Mexico reflect her globe-spanning career prior to settling here; they’re revealed by day in dishes like swordfish panzanella or roast duck hash with sweet potato, edamame, and poblanos and by night in seasonal creations ranging from Turkish cheese börek with sunflower seeds and pomegranate molasses to the signature smoked rabbit–pecan pie with sharp cheddar and mustard gelato.

This place lives up to its name in spades. Alma is Spanish for “soul,” which emanates from every inch of the earth-toned decor, every interaction with the thoughtful staff, and every inspired bite of Mexican food that chef-owner Johnny Curiel and his team painstakingly present over the course of a meal here, be it diver scallop crudo in serrano ponzu and tomato butter, chicken flautas in mole amarillo, or heritage pork shank with black bean puree and roasted habanero oil. No wonder seats at the chef’s counter may be the hottest ticket in town right now.

Though this (mostly) Asian Park Hill treasure is only open Tuesday–Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursday–Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., chef Penelope Wong and her team make mighty good use of their time, whipping up not only dumplings galore but all sorts of regular specials for lunch and happy hour: Depending on the day, that could mean bo luc lac (Vietnamese shaking beef), honey-walnut prawns, crispy garlic noodles, or classic char siu bao. There’s no better bet for an afternoon breather these days.

Coming in hot with its signature pozole, made from house-nixtamalized heirloom hominy in a variety of broths, Jose Avila’s Ballpark banger doesn’t stop there — not for a moment. In a dimly lit, cantina-esque setting, the kitchen also specializes in guisados featuring ingredients like bone marrow, cochinita pibil, chayote squash, and even grasshopper served on tacos, pambazos, and more; puts its own spin on brunch Thursday through Sunday via items such as carne asada–topped huaraches and concha French toast; and rocks the trompo on Wednesdays, when al pastor or fish tacos come with a margarita for $5–$7. And speaking of cocktails, the bar does wonders with not only tequila and mezcal but the likes of pox, pulque, and charanda.

While Frasca Food and Wine in Boulder (see above) may well be Colorado’s most famous dining destination, its Denver sibling is every bit as notable. Set on the Union Station platform in full view of the trains, the sleek restaurant and lounge takes a broader regional approach to Italian cuisine than its Friuli-focused sibling, proffering a seasonal menu that might find Venetian-style beef carpaccio next to Sicilian-inspired swordfish with caponata next to classic bistecca Fiorentina; the splurge-worthy wine list naturally follows suit. And the service, of course, is as polished as the tableware.

Chef Caroline Glover hasn’t let stardom go to her head: After all, her renown — cemented by a 2022 James Beard Award for best chef, Mountain region — is predicated on the down-to-earth, heartfelt approach to both cooking and hospitality she takes at Annette, located in Aurora’s Stanley Marketplace. Guests feel well cared for as they tuck into signatures like grilled beef tongue and marrow toast or roast chicken with bitter greens and PX sherry vinegar alongside seasonal dishes such as ricotta-plum toast with preserved lemon and basil; milk-braised lamb shoulder with grits, charred ramps, and chimichurri; and ice cream sandwiches in ever-changing flavors (think triple chocolate–rye and mint). Knockout cocktails and a boutique wine list enhance the feel-good experience.

It’s a nightly fiesta in here, thanks not least to a pan-Latin menu that’s tailor-made for sharing with friends, including dishes like the Brazilian fish stew moqueca de peixe; Mexican tlacoyos with cochinita pibil, habanero onions, salsa macha, and garlic crema; Puerto Rican mofongo with pork belly chicharrón and herb salad; and an ever-changing, weekends-only paella. But the vibe also points to the colorful, come-one-come-all culture cultivated by partners Erasmo Casiano, Diego Coconati, and Michelle Nguyen, whose bar plays its part in the party too as it whips up kicky cocktails like the La Guadaña with mezcal, corn liqueur, Yellow Chartreuse, almond, and charred lime.

Jennifer Jasinski and Beth Gruitch’s Mediterranean magnet in Larimer Square defines staying power: After 20 years in business, it still makes the short list for special occasions thanks to its urbane setting, professional service, and culinary flair. While Jasinski’s pork belly with garbanzo-bean puree and artichoke tortelloni are permanent menu fixtures, seasonal creations like kanpachi crudo with compressed watermelon, tamarind sauce, and black-garlic espuma or seared venison with braised red cabbage, wild mushrooms, and huckleberry jus reflect the kitchen’s dynamism.

The words “Eastern European food” and “sexy” rarely appear in the same sentence, but this snug East Colfax charmer may change that. Even the humblest and heartiest of ingredients — cabbage and turnips, millet and buckwheat — get the gourmet treatment from endlessly creative chef-owner Bo Porytko and his team, who transform them into refined dishes like lobio with stewed green and kidney beans, pickled grapes, watermelon molasses, and pumpkin oil or lobster-stuffed, rye-crumbed grilled sole in shallot soubise with herbed potato salad, all of which pair perfectly with horilka-based cocktails and wines from, say, Slovenia and Serbia. Book seats at their counter for the ultimate intimate experience.

The light, bright flavors of Vietnam shine at Ni and Anna Nguyen’s white-hot East Colfax spot, where dishes like pork meatballs with lemongrass, peaches, and pickled jalapeños; roasted tomato toast with crispy shallots; and charred cabbage with anchovy breadcrumbs and egg yolk have gained an instantly loyal following. Cheeky cocktails such as the gin-based Tiger’s Milk flavored with orange and dill complete the vibrant picture.

In the tagline of this quick-casual mom-and-pop hot spot, “tradition-inspired Chinese cuisine,” the word “inspired” is doing a bit of heavy lifting, as the kitchen takes liberties with ingredients like corned beef, fries, and mozzarella — but whether classic or creative, the results make for a good-time group feast. Make sure it includes at least one order of the crab-and-cheese wontons and the sizzling spicy noodles, which hit the spot alongside a cocktail laced with chili oil, Chinese plum brine, or Sichuan peppercorns.

Run by three seasoned Mizuna alumni, this Italian date-night retreat in Wash Park emanates class and grace. Handmade pastas take special pride of place here — consider garganelli with pork and green chile in ’nduja vinagrette and brown butter or ravioli inspired by French onion soup — and the sizeable wine list was naturally built to showcase them. But no meal is complete without at least one concoction from the bar, be it a coconut- and banana-laced take on a Negroni or an extra-sprightly Paloma with pear and preserved watermelon.

One of Denver’s only vegan restaurants also happens to be one of its coolest. Done up in fresh hues of turquoise, pink, and lemon yellow, it turns out an array of seasonal dishes that look simple on paper but prove satisfyingly complex on the plate, be it roasted-pepper arancini with corn aioli or tahini-whipped eggplant with chickpeas and cilantro oil. The same could be said for full- and zero-proof cocktails that feature ingredients from rhubarb to cucumber-infused Fino Sherry; the wine list, meanwhile, naturally emphasizes small biodynamic and organic producers. Opt for the multi-course tasting Tuesday through Saturday, then come back for the completely different, and surprisingly affordable, Sunday supper.

The name says a lot: This Aurora Korean joint makes its own tofu, so a bubbling bowl of stew featuring the soft, creamy stuff is a must. But it doesn’t tell the whole story of the menu, which also includes excellent seafood like soy sauce–marinated crab and braised, half-dried pollock with potatoes as well as staples such as spicy tteokbokki (rice cakes) and galbi jjim (short ribs). Wash it all down with soju or beer brewed by sibling Mono Mono in Lafayette.

Owned by a Moroccan family, this Hampden spot serves warming Middle Eastern plates in a modest but welcoming setting. Earthy lentil soup, pomegranate seed–topped baba ghanoush, crunchy-tender falafel, juicy chicken shawarma, rich braised lamb shank — it’s all here; just be sure to ask for a side of the wonderfully creamy house spinach too.